Lock utilizing interlocking cylinders



Jan, 20, 1959 H. D. ROLPH 2,869,351

LOCK UTILIZING INTERLOCKING CYLINDERS I Filed July 9, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR H 0. lee A MM ATTORNEY Jan. 20, 1959 H. D. ROLPH LOCK UTILIZING INTERLOCKING CYLINDERS 4;,Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR .J fi0' Fe 464 ATTORNEY Filed Jul; 9. 1953 Jan. 20, 1959 H. D. ROLPH 2,869,351

LOCK UTILIZING INTERLOCKING CYLINDERS INVENTOR #4 (#44 ATTORNEY\ Jan. 20, 1959 H. D. ROLPH 2,869,351

' LOCK UTILIZINGINTERLOCKING CYLINDERS Filed July 9, 195a 4 Sheets eet 4 W ATT R N EY United States Patent 2,869,351 LOCK UTILIZING INTERLOCKING CYLINDERS Henry D. Rolpll, Dusseldorf, Germany, assignor to The Yale as Towne Manufacturing Company, Stamford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application July 9, 1953, Serial N0. 367,016

7 9 Claims. (Cl. 70-134) This invention .relates to a lock of the class in which a bolt is adapted to be projected and retracted by a cylinder lock, or the equivalent thereof, positioned at each side of the lock casing. More particularly, the invention relates to a lock having a bolt adapted to be retracted and projected by twin cylinder locks positioned at each side of the lock in the manner set forth in the patent to Ladwig, No. 2,032,758. a

in the Ladwig patent, a pair of cylinders are mounted relatively to a lock casing, one cylinder at one side of the lock casing and the other cylinder at the other side of the lock casing. The two cylinders are adapted to interlock with the interlocking means controlled by the key operated piug of one of the cylinders. Each of the cylinders in Ladwig is formed with a key operated cam that upon rotation is adapted to retract and project a usual bolt. Each of the cyiinders is furthermore formed with lugs whereby it is prevented from rotating relatively to the lock case, so that the cylinders will be held in predetermined relation to the lock case, the interlocking means between the cylindersholding them against endwise removal from the lock case.

While Ladwig shows lock cylinders controlled by keys, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that one of the cylinders may really be a thumb turn mounting member, so that instead of a key plug being utilized in that cylinder for retracting and projecting the bolt, the thumb turn will be adapted for the particular purpose. The invention to be disclosed in this application is a very considerable improvement over Ladwig in that it makes possible the utilization of the interlocking means between the cylinders as part of the control mechanism for the lock bolt. Thus, inLadwig the bolt dogging mechanism is completely independent of the cylinders, except that it is actuated by the cylinder cams, and means must be provided for controlling the movement of the bolt between a projected and a retracted position. My inven tion utilizes the interlocking means, preferably pins as in Ladwig, for coaction" with a moving dog or tumbler that controls the locking of the bolt. In this way, the pins not only form interlocking means between the cylinders, but form an integral and important part of the lock itself, making possible the elimination of the additional and conventional means required in the Ladwig lock and in all other cylinder operated locks.

As a further feature of the invention, I perferably form both cylinders, it being recognized that only one cylinder need thus be formed, so that the openings in the lock case coact with the cylinder bodies to maintain the cylinders against rotation. This makes it unnecessary to utilize the pin lugs of the Ladwig cylinders required to keep the Ladwig cylinders against rotation. Further, it makes possible the movement of a part of each cylinder into the interior of the lock case, and this in turn makes possible the mounting of tumblers and drivers within the lock case. Thereby, the axial length of each of the cylinders may be reduced, or if not reduced, the cylinders may carry additional pins and drivers. It is a further feature of this part of the invention that that part of one cylinder entering the lock case is the part that carries the pins so that the pins are rigidly maintained by the cylinder against any movement relatively to the lock case, except in an axial direction. In addition, this pin length outside the cylinders is very short so that the pins are very rigid. All this makes possible the eflicient functioning of the pins as part of the lock mechanism.

A further feature of the invention resides in the utilization of cams on each of the cylinders adapted to coact with the case to hold the cylinders against separation from the case except when the cams are key rotated. This is an additional feature protecting the lock against the removal of the cylinders therefrom.

I have thus outline rather broadly the more important features of my invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that my contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of my invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended thereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which my disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of my invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions as do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention, in order to prevent the appropriation of my invention by those skilled in the art.

Referring now to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a lock embodying by invention, showing it mounted within a door, the door being shown in phantom.

Fig. 2 is a View of the lock of Fig. 1 with the outside cylinder and the outside flanged plate of the case removed therefrom.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the inside cylinder key plug rotated approximately Fig. 4 shows the parts of Fig. 3 with the inside cylinder key plug rotated further to project the bolt.

Fig. 5 shows the manner in which the bolt is projected an additional distance through a further 360 rotation of the key plug of the inside cylinder.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 66 of Fig. 3.

P Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are respectively sections taken along lines 8-3, 99 and 101ti of Fig. 4.

Fig. 11 is an exploded view showing the inside cylinder, the bolt, the tumbler and a cover plate for the bolt.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and especially Fig. 1, I show at D a door in phantom, and within the usual mortise opening of this door I mount a lock embodying my invention and designated generally by reference letter L. The case of the lock is formed by the union of an inside flanged plate it) and an outside flanged plate 11. These two plates are assembled to one another through the utilization of a pair of screws 12 extending from the outside plate into threaded lugs 13 of the inside plate, shown in Fig. 2. The case is completed by the assembly thereto of the front plate 14.

Slidably mounted within the case is a bolt assembly B formed through the union of the three parts 16, 17 and 18 best shown in Fig. 11. The part 16 is the bolt proper equipped with a bolt head 19 and a tail 2!]. A spring 51, best shown in Figs. 2 and 5, maintains pressure against the upper surface of the bolt tail 20 to prevent rattling of the bolt and to hold it for sliding movement on a bearing guide pin 21, also Well shown in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive.

As will be seen in Fig. 11, the bolt tail is formed 22, being guided in this movement by a forward wall 23' of the chamber and a rear wall 24 of the said chamber. A spring 25, well shown in Figs. 2 to 5 is coiled abouta post 26 extending from the bolt tall 20, one leg of the spring operating against the upper surface outlining the chamber 22 while the lower leg 27 of .the spring presses against the upper surface 28 of the tumbler or dog 17 urging it downwardly relatively to the bolt into the positions shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. The chamber 22 of the bolt tail 20 is closed by the plate 18 riveted suitably to the post 26 and a pair of additional posts 29 and 30. Plate 18 then becomes an integral part of the bolt assembly B, and holds the tumbler or dog 17 in operating position.

The tail 20 of the bolt 16 is notched at 31 and 32 for coaction with the cam 33 (best shown in Figs. 2 and 11) of a key plug forming part of the inside cylinder 37 to be used for operating the bolt 16. The plate 18 is similarly notched at 33 and 34 for the cam 35 of the outside cylinder designated by reference number 36 in Figs. 1 and 6.

The tumbler or dog 17 is formed with a series of shallow depressions or notches 38, it being the function of these notches to hold the dog or tumbler 17 against lateral movement relatively to the lock case. It is obvious that when the tumbler or dog is held against movement, the bolt 16 will also be held against movement relatively to the case, either from a projected position or from a re tracted position. This function of the tumbler or dog 17 is made possible through the coaction of the depressions or notches 38 with suitable means fixed relatively to the case of the lock, and it is one of the features of my invention that for this purpose I utilize means extending between the two cylinders 36 and 37 for such coaction with the tumbler or dog 17.

Referring now to Fig. 11 it will be noted that the inside cylinder 37 has one end thereof cut away or slabbed to form an extension 40. A pair of pins 41 are fixed to the extension 40 and project axially therefrom relatively to the cylinder. Referring to Figs. 2 and 10, the case part 10 is cut away to form an opening shaped exactly as is the extension 40 so that when the cylinder 37 is placed in the said opening of the case, it will be held against rotation. The pins 41 are adapted then to extend through the case and to project to the outside of the case, as is well seen in Fig. 10. The outside cylinder 36 is formed in accordance with the teachings of the Ladwig patent, having a detent 42 operated under certain conditions by a pin 43, the detent normally functioning to lock the outside cylinder 36 to the inside cylinder 37 because of the coaction of the detent 42 with one or the other of pins 41.

The outside cylinder 36 is preferably also slabbed or cut away to form an extension 44 similar to extension 40 and functioning in the same manner to hold the outside cylinder against rotation relatively to the case part 11. Therefore, the two cylinders are held against rotation relatively to the case and are held assembled to one another with the case therebetween as in Ladwig. However, because of the forming of the cylinders in the manner just described to create the extensions 40 and 44, it is possible to mount certain of the pins 45 and drivers 46 of the cylinders within the lock case and this is well illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 10. It is not possible to do this in the prior art structure shown in Ladwig where the cylinders are required to lie entirely outside the lock case. Further, because of the forming of the pins 41 to extend axially from the extension 40, the pins 41 are considerably shorter than are required in Ladwig and those parts relatively to the lock case to permit their effective coaction with the tumbler or dog 17 in a manner to be described now.

In the retracted position of the bolt shown in Fig. 2, it will be noted that the two left depressions or notches 38 of the dog 17 coact with the two pins 41. Obviously, the dog 17 cannot move axially now relatively to those I pins. Therefore, the bolt 16 cannot move axially relaof the pins outside the two cylinders 36 and 37 are very short. Therefore, the pins 41 are maintained ver y rigidly tively-to the case because its surfaces 23, 24 prevent any relative axial motion between dog 17 and the bolt. The bolt assembly B is, therefore, dogged in the retracted position of the bolt 16 proper.

Let us consider now what happens when the cam 33 of the inside cylinder 37 is rotated from the position of Fig. 2 to the position of Fig. 3. During this rotation, the cam 33 will raise the tumbler or dog 17 against the force of the spring 25 so as to bring the depressions or notches 38 away from coaction with the pins 41. At the same time the cam 33 will contact an end surface of the notch 31 in the bolt tail 20. Further, counter clockwise rotation of the cam 33 from the position of Fig. 3 while in the notch 31 effects a throw of the bolt to the position of Fig. 4. The tumbler or dog 17 will in Fig. 4 have been lowered once again so that the two central notches 38 engage the pins 41 to dog the bolt in its projected position of Fig. 4.

If now it is desired to project the bolt an additional amount, the cylinder 37 can be key operated so as to rotate the cam an additional 360. During this additional 360 rotation the tumbler 17 will have been raised again away from coaction with the pins 41, and the bolt will have been thrown a further distance through the coaction of cam 33 with notch 32 of the bolt tail 20. This brings the bolt to the position of Fig. 5. Naturally, to retract the bolt from the position of Fig. 5 to the position of Fig. 2 the cam 33 will be rotated clockwise from its position of Fig. 5, 720", or two complete revolutions. Thus, the first complete rotation thereof will bring the bolt to the position of Fig. 4 and the second complete rotation will bring the bolt to the position of Fig. 2. Naturally, the tumbler 17 will have been raised twice, once for each revolution. It is thus quite apparent that the basic concept of my invention provides for the utilization of the pins 41 as part of the controlling and locking mechanism of my locking combination. This makes it unneccessary to provide the usually costly and relatively more complicated tumbler mechanism that is required in locks of the particular class. The economics brought about by the use of my invention will now be very clear to those skilled in the art.

A further important feature of my invention resides in the utilization of the cam 33, and also the cam 35 of the outside cylinder, to prevent surreptitious removal of the cylinders in the event the detent 42 becomes inoperative. Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the key K, shown in Fig. 10, and also partially in Figs. 6 and 7, operates the usual pin tumblers of a lock of the class described. The proper positioning of the tumblers by the key K will allow for rotation of the usual key plug, it being understood that the key plug of the inside cylinder 37 carries the cam 33 while the key plug of the outside cylinder 36 carries the cam 35. Upon rotation of the key to a particular position, an opening in the key plug will allow access to the detent 42 in accordance with the teachings of the Ladwig patent already referred to. Should the detent 42 become inoperative through breakage of the spring 50 pressing it to locking position, it is obvious that it would be possible to separate the two cylinders 36, 37 without possession of the necessary key, were no other means provided to prevent such separation. I do provide such other means utilizing the cams 33 and 35.

In Fig. 2 the cam 33 is shown in the normal locked condition of the cylinder 37. Unless the cylinder is operated by key to bring the cam 33 into its position of Figs.

3 and 6, it will be impossible to remove the cylinder 37 from the case. Similarly, the cam 35 of the cylinder 36 is normally maintained in the position of Fig. 6 when the cylinder 36 is in its locked condition. Therefore, the cams 33 and 35 prevent the unauthorized removal of the cylinders 36 and 37 from the lock case in the event of failure of detent 42. It should again be emphasized that the word cylinder is used very generally in this case to designate any key operated structure, or an equivalent manually operated device such as a thumb turn member.

I believe that the construction of my invention and the contribution thereof will now be apparent to those skilled in this art.

I now claim:

1. In a lock of the class described, a case having opposed sides each of which is formed with an opening, a bolt in said case, a key operated cylinder adapted to fit endwise against each side of said case with part of said cylinder entered into said case through one opening and that part of said cylinder outside said case overlapping said opening to lie against the surface of the case, at least one tumbler of at least one of said cylinders positioned at least partially in that part of the cylinder within said case, means extending between those parts of said cylinders Within said case to secure said cylinders to one another and therefore to said case, dogging means for said bolt coacting with said extending means, and a cam operated by at least one of said cylinders for actuating said dogging means.

2. In a lock of the class described, a case having opposed sides each of which is formed with an opening, a bolt in said case, a key operated cylinder adapted to fit endwise against each side of said case with part of said cylinder entered into said case through one opening to lie against the surface of the case and that part of said cylinder outside said case overlapping said opening, at least one tumbler of each of said cylinders positioned at least partially in that part of the cylinder within said case, means extending between those parts of said cylin- -ders within said case to secure said cylinders to one another and therefore to said case, the parts of said cylinders within said case formed with surfaces holding said cylinders against rotation while said means extending between said cylinders hold said cylinders against endwise separation, dogging means for said bolt coacting with said extending means, and a cam operated by at least one of said cylinders for actuating said dogging means.

3. In a lock of the class described, a case having opposed sides, a bolt slidably mounted in said case, a lock cylinder adapted to fit endwise against each side of said case, a tumbler slidably mounted on said bolt for sliding in a direction transverse to the sliding direction of said bolt, pins extending between said lock cylinders within said case to secure said cylinders to one another and therefore to said case, said tumbler having notches in opposed relation to said pins, a spring urging said tumbler relatively to said bolt and toward said pins whereby to coact with the pins through said notches and at least one of said lock cylinders having a rotatable cam for moving said tumbler relatively to said bolt and pins for throwing said bolt.

4. In a lock of the type having a case with opposed sides, a bolt mounted in said case for movement to and from locking position, a pair of lock cylinders, means for securing said cylinders at opposite sides of the lock case comprising means interlocking said cylinders relatively to each other and with said lock case located therebetween, said interlocking means being operable into engaging relation upon relative movement of said cylinders, a part held against movement relatively to the bolt in the direction of bolt movement whereby to move with the bolt to and from locking position, said part adapted to move relatively to the bolt in another direction, and a portion on said part coacting with said interlocking means through movement of the part relatively to the bolt whereby to dog the bolt relatively to said case.

5. In a lock of the type having a case, a bolt mounted in said case for movement to and from looking position, a pair of lock cylinders, means securing said cylinders at opposite sides of the lock case comprising means carried by one cylinder and extending into the other cylinder for locking engagement therewith, a part held against movement relatively to the bolt in the direction of bolt movement and adapted to move relatively to the bolt in another direction, a portion onsaid part moving into coacting relation to said extending means through movement of the part relatively to the bolt, and means on each cylinder for operating said part to dog the bolt relatively to the case through coaction with said extending means.

6. In a lock of the type having a case, a bolt mounted in said case for movement to and from locking position, a pair of lock cylinders, means securing said cylinders at opposite sides of the lock case comprising pins carried by one cylinder and extending into the other cylinder for locking engagement therewith, a tumbler held against movement relatively to the bolt in the direction of bolt movement whereby to move with the bolt to and from locking position, said tumbler adapted to move relatively to the bolt in another direction, said tumbler formed with notches for engaging said pins through movement of the tumbler relatively to the bolt, and a key operated cam on each cylinder for operating said tumbler whereby to dog the bolt to the lock case through said notches and pins.

7. In a lock of the type having a case with opposed ides each of which is formed with an opening, a key operated cylinder adapted to fit endwise against each side of the case with part of said cylinder entered into the case through one opening, said part on each cylinder formed with surfaces coacting with the opening to hold that cylinder against rotation relatively to the case, a bolt mounted in said case for movement to and from locking position, means for securing said cylinders at opposite sides of the lock case comprising means interlocking said cylinders relatively to each other with said lock case located between the cylinders, said interlocking means being operable into engaging relation upon relative endwise movement of said cylinders, a part held against movement relatively to the bolt in the direction of bolt movement whereby to move with the bolt to and from locking position, said part adapted to move relatively to the bolt in another direction, and a portion on said part coacting with said interlocking means through movement of the part relatively to the bolt whereby to dog the bolt relatively to the case.

8. In a. lock of the class described, a case having opposed sides each of which is formed with an opening, a lock cylinder adapted to fit endwise against each side of said case, a part of each cylinder entered into assembled relation to the case through one opening to extend within said case toward the corresponding part of the opposed cylinder, one of said cylinders having a series of key actuated tumblers arranged in aligned relation to the part of the cylinder that extends within the case, one of said tumblers positioned in said part within the case so that the series of tumblers may be arranged in the cylinder when the part of the cylinder that is outside the case is relatively short, the part of each cylinder outside the case overlapping the corresponding case opening to lie against the surface of the case, and means extending between those parts of said cylinders that are within said case and through which each cylinder holds the opposed cylinder whereby to secure both cylinders to said case.

9. In a lock of the class described, a case having opposed sides each of which is formed with an opening, a key operated cylinder adapted to fit endwise against each side of said case in overlapping relation to the opening in that side, a cam on each cylinder entered into said case through the opening overlapped by that cylinder, means extending between said cylinders within said case and through which each cylinder holds the opposed cylinder whereby to secure both cylinders to said case, said cams being normally positioned relatively to the sides of said case to obstruct removal of said cylinders away from said case, and the key operation of each cylinder moving the cam on that cylinder out of obstructing position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,309,438 Keefer July 8, 1919 

